A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Feel free to join in, use the acronym, and use up your NBUS too! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

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February 16, 2014

Santa's "Hamster" ~ NBUS #105

hELLO! hOW'S YOUR WEEKEND GOING?

oY ... don't you hate it when your cap locks is on when you don't want it to be?

I started today's card earlier in the week and after the boys went to bed, I was able to finish it before the deadline for the current "Use an Animal" challenge at the famous Merry Monday Christmas Challenge.

Here is my card:

The stinkin' cute mouse, sediment, and Santa are all NBUS stamps from the super fun Paper Smooches set called "Santa Paws." You can't see it, but I liberally applied Wink of Stella to everything. The snowy hills are handdrawn and that reindeer is from Stampin' Up.

If I need a hamster running the wheel in my head to help me focus, then I fingered for sure Santa needed his own hamster (or, in this case, a Christmouse) to help him keep everything straight, what with the ginormous lists of boys and girls and addresses and calories imbibed slurping the milk and munching the cookies ... Why I imagine if he didn't have a hamster/mouse he'd get all distracted and possibly stop off at a fly-in movie theater all night. That would not be good.

You might ask what the deal is with the motley fur on Santa's hat. Well, he forgot to put his hat in the laundry, so Mrs. Claus had to pull an old one out of the donation box which had yellowed with age. Wait. What? The donation box had yellowed with age or the hat had yellowed with age? I wish I was better at parsnipping my sentences.

I was happy to see that Kim is continuing the anniversary celebration at Paper Smooches Blog with a "Fun and Cute" challenge.

There's a lot of red and white on my card, so I'm linking up with the current challenge at Festive Fridays which is this beautiful photo inspiration.

And, as so often happens, yet another Christmas challenge is currently featuring red, as in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. You can find it over at Jingle Belles!

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The little reindeer seen on my card photo-bombing Santa is obviously NOT Rudolph. He is the lesser-known, but impish, Ruben, who's claim to fame is his uncanny likeness to the adorable Katie Couric!

***I hope you get the opportunity to support the challenges that are brought to us by our fellow card artists. They all put a ton of work into each challenge! You can click on the links for all the details regarding rules, sponsors, and prizes.***

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New Friends Corner

I have two more new friends joining us today for you to meet. But first I want to take a second and thank those of you who do click on the links and make new friends with my friends!

Shona Chambers of Twine Around. Shona has only been blogging since September 2013, but she has shared card-after-wonderful-card on her posts. I love her style and I think you will, too, as you help me welcome her to this supportive stamping community!

Sid of Harpies Crafty Corner. Sid is my second male follower and I'm so delighted about that! He has been blogging since 2006! Yes, another blogger who has been inspiring us for a very long time with his incredible spirit and works of card art!

Welcome, Shona and Sid, and thank you for joining us!!

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy. LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:

Click CTL + Home.Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.Click Jump to Comment Form; no more car pool tunnel!Mwah!

Huh, that Ruben ... still, I don't think he's a match for Santa's googly eyes and understudy hat, Darnell ... adorable! So considerate of you to ensure Santa had a hamster-mouse now to help out ... that way by Christmas they'll have got to know one another foibles well! Hugs, Anita :)

Well, what a wonderful surprise I got this morning to find such fantastic comments on my blog. Thank you so much!! It was such a lovely thing for you to do, to welcome me into the 'world of card makers' and let people know about my blog. Have found the craft/blog community so welcoming and so supportive. I think its wonderful how you mention other bloggers on your post. I think I will start doing the same so I can pass on the 'crafting love'! And love the Xmas card, santa is so gorgeous with his googly eyes. Will have to practice my colouring as it really adds so much to your card!

Once again, my ab workout is accomplished for the day, although I nearly conked me head on the floor, I was laughing so hard! Hilarious post, brilliant card (that Ruben cracks me up...sorry, need to laugh for a bit...okay, I'm back). Yes, you've brightened this 'on my own-some' day of mine!! Hugs, my friend~c

jUST - um, I mean Just how do you manage to incorporate so many challenges into one card - you're amazing! Love this sweet little scene! That little Ruben is adorable!!! And as far as I'm concerned you can never go wrong with PS! Fab card, Darnell!

Darnell, this is just too stinkin' cute! I love that Santa and that adorable mouse sitting on his head is just too much fun! Is that a little reindeer trying to photo bomb Santa's photo op??? too funny!

Hi Darnell! How cute! I had to check the date several times as I thought I had found an Xmas post. You can tell I am not a stamper or card maker, right? The mouse is GREAT on top of Santa's hat, which didn't look yellowed at all. And that reindeer was too darling. Your narrative surrounding the card just made it all the better! Hugs!

I try to support challenges but I need to clone myself to do all the ones I want to do... or stop visiting all my wonderful pals in Blogland. And Ruben! I do see the resemblance to Katie Couric (who?). As for Santa and his out of date hat... I think he needs to back away from the caffeine for a little bit. Just sayin'!

Sorry i have not visited for a while but since the last time i was here you've made lots of gorgeous cards just like today's which i so love even thou he has a yellowed aged hat from the donations box!! Lol

What a great fun card Darnell, I love lickle mousey perched up there...lol Been having a look back as I have missed so much...busy with wedding cake at present, so sugar flowers have overtaken cards at present, be back on track soon. Hugs Mau xx

SOOOOOO CUTE Darnell! I adore that little reindeer peeping up behind Santa. The motley hat is too funny! I just love the whole little Christmas scene! So happy you played with us at Festive Friday! ((Hugs))

This is just too cute! I'm starting to feel left out - I don't seem to have a rodent-type creature to keep me on track but everyone else does! ;)

My stray little finger hits the caps lock all the time and I find myself SHOUTING! It's mildly irritating but my own fault for not being able to control my digits!

Thank you so much for letting me know about my ATCAS top 3 - blow me down with a feather! I cannot believe I was even in the running out of all those gorgeous entries!!! I've missed you're little updates - I'll have to try and get some more wins in! ;)

Darnell, you are just too fun! Thanks for being the bearer of good news over at my blog more than once in the last couple of weeks. You are just too sweet, I appreciate all the the super nice comments. And of course your cards rock, too! This isn't the last you'll be hearing from me :)

A double header this morning. Your beautiful postcards, now the funny one! So cute & I love that Ruben...he's my kinda guy! Your Stella shows on the snow hills too. Will be checking your new friends when I get visitin' caught up once more. I needed a good smile to start me on the journey. TFS & Hugs

Oh, what an adorable card, Darnell! I love how you created your scene...so charming and so CAS! Not to be 'out-done' by your description, though! You totally crack me up...honestly! And, I love how you managed to squeeze it into 4 challenges, too...you're so clever!

Thanks for encouraging everyone to play along in challenges...I can only imagine how much work goes into them, and I appreciate those gals a LOT! Besides which, they're a lot of fun! Hugs to you...and of course to Ruben, too :-)

Oh, how cute, Darnell...love how that little mouse is looking right up at the sentiment! And...it's nice to know Santa and the first lady of Christmas don't ALWAYS have their shtuff together!!!Great to have you and this cheery creation at Festive Friday!!!

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About Me

I have been stamping and making cards since 2002. I've been married 47 years to Kevin, known herein as "Mister." Our son Daniel and his wife Rachel have twin sons Henry and Adam. Card-making and blogging are wonderful hobbies which have brought me noodles of friends! Oh, and I have an imaginary hamster named Hammy who keeps me in line. Thank you for visiting, joining, and commenting! It will be my pleasure to return the flavor!!